Kansas University announced Friday that it ranks among the best education values in the nation, according to the Princeton Review.

KU ranked in the top 50 public universities in the United States for best education value. Rankings were based on surveys of administrators and students at more than 650 public and private colleges and universities.

The selection criteria covered more than 30 factors in three areas: academics, costs of attendance and financial aid. The data is from the 2007-08 academic year.

“When you look at cost of higher education and you look at value and quality, all of those factors are very apparent in the opportunities available at the University of Kansas,” said Marlesa Roney, vice provost for student success. “It is that combination of high quality academics, an amazing and beautiful campus, and just a great campus experience.”

Roney cited the four-year, fixed-rate tuition contract as an example of how KU tries to make education affordable and worthwhile. The tuition contract began in the 2007-2008 academic year and guarantees the same tuition rates for incoming freshmen through four years of university education.

Christy Quinlan, a 2005 KU graduate from Lansing, said she believes the quality of her education at KU was well worth what she paid, despite not being eligible for the four-year contract.

“I feel like the students had a substantial voice in what went on and that the university was always trying to improve,” Quinlan said.

TopJayhawk, Athletics does not take any money from anyone directly, they have to raise their own cash, which they have demonstrated their excellence in. I think you probably know that, but just to make it clear for anyone else.Now what I think is fair to say is that the University has been far too focused on fund raising for athletics and should have reoriented themselves a couple of years ago. While I usually don´t agree with much of what Dolph Simons Jr.says, his editorials (http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2008/jun... and http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2008/feb/16/simons_gap_between_capital_campaign_may_be_detrime/)accurately highlight the continuing problems the University has had with raising capital. Athletics fund-raising has been too important in the chancellors office for too long. Hopefully new leadership will bring about more appropriate and balanced fund-raising.

First, let's acknowledge that it's better to be among the 100 best values than excluded from it. To be a flagship state school but be excluded would require some explaining. That said, "We're among the top 100!" isn't much of a rallying cry to be proud of -- sort of like saying "Our basketball team made the NIT -- Yeah!"

KU_cynic (Anonymous) says… First, let's acknowledge that it's better to be among the 100 best values than excluded from it. To be a flagship state school but be excluded would require some explaining.That said, “We're among the top 100!” isn't much of a rallying cry to be proud of — sort of like saying “Our basketball team made the NIT — Yeah!”Thank god then that this entire article is about KU being in the top 50, rather than the top 100.

"Kansas University announced Friday that it ranks among the best education values in the nation, according to the Princeton Review.KU ranked in the top 50 public universities in the United States for best education value. Rankings were based on surveys of administrators and students at more than 650 public and private colleges and universities."Wow, thanks LJWorld. Did you consider telling us WHERE on the list KU is? Are we #1 or #50? I swear, the main topic of the story is that KU is on this list and you can't even bother to fully report on it. Lazy reporters are lazy.

Looking at the review, it appears that the list only ranks the top ten public and top ten private schools. The rest seem to be on the list with no apparent ranking at all.Here are some excerpts from KU's review."A big school with big opportunities...""...you can also cruise through and pass your classes.""Classes are small and the top-notch professors really care about their students.""Different groups of students range from Greeks to hippies.""From late October to April, the Final Four basketball is KU’s favorite way to play.""Lawrence is college student-friendly with dozens of bars...""...the university knows a good time when it sees one and has very popular Greek organization house parties every weekend.""KU students benefit from the school’s sizable endowment."In 2008–2009, Kansas residents paid about $18,000 to attend KU. They paid $6,195 in tuition, $847 in required fees, $6,474 in room and board, $750 for books and supplies, $1,638 in transportation expenses, and $2,182 in other expenses. Out-of-state students paid an additional $10,077 in tuition to bring the annual cost of attending KU to approximately $28,000. The average financial aid award of those with demonstrated need was $7,025; need-based scholarships and/or grant added another $3,660, for a total of $10,685 off the sticker price for those with need.

hammysammy writes:"Thank god then that this entire article is about KU being in the top 50, rather than the top 100."It's top 50 public and top 50 private -- hence my reference to top 100. I reiterate, however, that being a flagship state school and making the top 50 public is no biggie. Naturally, there are some states with more than one great public school -- California system schools, for example, or Texas. Likewise, there are some states whose state schools might not have made the list -- perhaps places like Montana, Idaho, the Dakotas, Alaska.Likewise, there are undoubtedly state schools that did not make the list that, in the grand scheme of things, are very close substitutes for a school like KU in terms of academics. It's a sad commentary on our society that recent basketball and football success probably helped KU onto the list over similar schools without as much athletic success.